Is Surrogacy Legal in Greece? – Law, Requirements & Cost

Surrogacy or surrogate motherhood is legal in Greece for both opposite-sex couples (married or unmarried) and single females who cannot carry a child to term naturally. Only altruistic surrogacy arrangements are allowed.

Even though surrogacy has been permitted to Greek citizens since 2002, the law was amended in 2014, which gave non-EU citizens the right to have a child via surrogacy in Greece. Continue reading to learn more about the regulations, prices, and more.

The different sections of this article have been assembled into the following table of contents.

Surrogacy law

Altruistic surrogacy has been permitted for Greek citizens since 2002. However, the law was extended twelve years later—particularly in July 2014—, thereby giving foreign citizens the right to become parents through surrogacy in Greece as well.

The law, as amended, means that Greece can now be included in the list of countries that allow surrogacy to non-residents as well, thereby becoming a recommended destination for those interested in pursuing surrogacy abroad.

It should be taken into account, however, that the Greek law establishes a series of legal requirements that should be met in order to have the right to participate in a surrogacy arrangement:

Same-sex couples and single men cannot take part in surrogacy programs. Only opposite-sex couples and single females have currently this right. It is believed that surrogacy laws will be opened up to gay couples as soon as same-sex marriage is recognized in Greece.

In the case of heterosexual couples, they can be either married or unmarried.

The age of the intended mother cannot be above 50 years, and she has to obtain medical evidence of her inability to have children through a letter from a doctor in their home country.

The law states that only altruistic surrogacy arrangements are allowed. Nonetheless, under certain circumstances, a certain compensation can be given to the surrogate, as long as it doesn’t exceed the sum of $12,000.

Failure to comply with the law, whether you are a resident or non-resident, may be sentenced to 2 years imprisonment and a fine of at least $1,800.

Surrogacy & egg donation

Using donor eggs for IVF surrogacy is permitted in Greece. The law states, however, that egg donations must be done only with altruistic purposes, thereby preventing women from “selling” their egg cells.

Even though paying egg donors for their services is prohibited, they can receive a symbolic compensation of about $700, not exceeding the sum of $900, to reimburse the costs incurred during the process, including lost of wages, travel expenses, etc.

To be an egg donor, potential candidates must be aged between 18 and 45 years and be mentally and physically healthy. To confirm this, they are medically and psychologically pre-screened.

Court approval & citizenship

It is required for intended parents to obtain court approval of the surrogacy arrangement prior to the embryo transfer to the uterus of the gestational carrier. At this point, the IP(s) must submit to the court evidence of their medical inability to have children.

When looking for surrogacy clinics in Greece, IPs must make sure that they will be assigned a Greek lawyer, who will be responsible for preparing the surrogacy agreement and the documents that must be submitted to the court.

Intended parents will have to travel to Greece to execute the surrogacy contract, undergo testing, and submit the court application for approval.

On average, it takes for the Greek court about 8 weeks to make their final decision, which will be notified to the intended parents as soon as it is available.

At this point, the surrogate can get started with the medical preparation for the transfer, but the transfer itself cannot take place before the Court has delivered its official judgement.

Babies born in Greece do not acquire Greek citizenship at birth. Passport and citizenship are acquired based on the IPs’ citizenship. For this reason, consulting the requirements in your home country for registering a child born abroad is a crucial step as well.

Average cost

The cost of surrogacy in Greece ranges between $85,000 and $100,000 on average. However, this is just a general price range and for this reason we recommend that intended parents add an extra 10-15% to their budget to cover potential mishaps and unforeseen events.

The cost can be broken down into various fees, including the agency, attorney, and fertility clinic fees. The compensation to the surrogate should be taken into account as well, which adds about $10,000 to the overall cost.

Typically, Greek clinics allow intended parents to pay in installments: one after signing the contract, the second after approval by the court, the third when fetal heartbeat is confirmed, the fourth at 23 weeks approximately, fifth at 32 weeks, and finally at birth. Ask your clinic to learn more about this.

For most would-be parents, surrogacy is the most confusing of all fertility treatments. Transparency is a core value for us when it comes to recommending a clinic or agency for them. You can now use this tool to receive a detailed report that will solve any question you may have, and most importantly, to help you avoid potential frauds.

Is Crete a good destination for surrogacy in Greece?

Is commercial surrogacy allowed in Greece?

By Sara Salgado (embryologist).

No, only altruistic surrogacy in permitted under current Greek law. Nevertheless, surrogates can receive a financial compensation for lost wages and all other expenses incurred during the surrogacy process.

Can we use a known egg donor for gestational surrogacy in Greece?

No. Both egg and sperm donors are required to be anonymous by law. IPs can, however, specify some particular traits, including race, hair color, eye color, etc. Learn more: Egg Donation in Greece.

Do IPs become the legal parents of the child from the time of conception under Greek law?

By Sara Salgado (embryologist).

Yes. Article 1464 of the Greek Civil Code states that the woman who applies for and is granted a judicial authorization to enter into a surrogacy arrangement (i.e. intended mother) in Greece is the legal mother of the child born via surrogacy. Moreover, her husband or de facto partner will be considered the legal father of the child.

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Authors and contributors

SaraSalgado

Embryologist

Degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). Master's Degree in Human Assisted Reproduction from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). Certificate of University Expert in Genetic Diagnosis Techniques from the University of Valencia (UV). More information about Sara Salgado